Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to substitute Emile Smith Rowe in the second half against Bournemouth, despite the winger being brought on from the bench early in the first half. The Hale End academy graduate was introduced into the game after an injury concern for Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian received treatment in the 22nd minute of the game but was unable to continue, pushing Smith Rowe into action on the left as Gabriel Martinelli moved up front. It leaves Arteta with a wider concern as to his options at striker, with Eddie Nketiah missing the game with a knock.
"It is a worry," the Spaniard said on Trossard after the victory. "He came to me and said I cannot continue I felt something when I was tracking back after the corner. We had to take him off and we have to assess him and see how he is."
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The decision to sub off Smith Rowe after bringing him on may have been a brave one from Arteta, given how the decision could be perceived. But it worked out in the end as his replacement Reiss Nelson got an assist and eventually the winning goal deep into stoppage time to earn all three points.
The manager explained the decision after the game, claiming the switch was due to the lack of game time for Smith Rowe as of late. He told the media: "We didn’t plan to throw him [Smith Rowe] in so early. We knew it was difficult for him to last 70 minutes on the field after missing nearly five months.
"But I think he had a good impact, but at the end I felt we needed something else on the left because we were lacking threat and we were attracting more players in to that side. That’s why we made the decision to bring Reiss on."
It could be a defining moment in the season one way or another for the Gunners, with the events leading to the win, but potentially leaving longer lasting damage when it comes to the squad and injuries.
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